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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: martins <gammamartins30@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2010 09:13:40 +0530 (IST)
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT COOPERATION
Dear Friend,
Its just my urgent need for foreign partner
that made me contact you for this transaction. I am a banker by profession from
Burkina Faso in West Africa and currently holding the post of Manager, Bill and
Exchange Department of the bank. I have the opportunity of transferring the left
over funds ($15,million) belonging to one of my bank's clients who died along
with his entire family in TSUNAMI DISASTER IN INDONESIA/INDIA ON 06TH DECEMBER
2004,Contact me if you are interested,
MR GAMMA MARTINS.
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Anti-fraud resources:
